Open-mesh woven wire tube

ABSTRACT

An open-mesh wire grip having the wire strands so woven that at an intermediate place adjacent to that end thereof opposite to the draft end of the grip there is provided a section of predetermined high-angle weave located between and joined to sections of larger mesh. Preferably in that section of the grip forming such opposite end thereof the weave is such that the strands form a gradually increasing mesh size from said section of high-angle weave.

United States Patent Fidrych Feb. 1, 1972 [54] OPEN-MESH WOVEN WIRE TUBE 2,602,207 7/1952 Kellems ..24/l23 F [72} mentor: Alfred w. ndrych' stonington. Conn 869,686 l0/l907 Bauno ..272/8 N X [73] Assignee: Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated, Bridgeport, Primary Ex inerw" Bl nk Conn. Assislan! Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry Attorney-Sylvester J. Liddy. John J. Hart, Joe E. Daniels and 22] Fllcdl May l, 970 Charles Baxley [21 1 Appl. No.2 33,822

Y {57] ABSTRACT I 52 I U.S. Cl ..294l86 CG, 24/l23 F opcn'mc'h wire grip buying the wovc" [5| I L CL I fin m3 at an intermediate place adjacent to that end thereof opposite l5 m nib-"rah ""294/74 24/123 to the draft end of the grip there is provided a section of l 124/30 N 27 predetermined high-angle weave located between and joined to sections of larger mesh. Preferably in that section of the l 56] Rekrcm cued grip forming such opposite end thereof the weave is such that the strands form a gradually increasing mesh size from said UNlTED STATES PATENTS section of high-angle weave.

2,688,172 9/l954 Kellems ..24ll 23 F 9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures FATENTEDFEB 11972 3.638.987

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ALFRED w. kYc

H k e V ATTORNEYS 1 OPEN-MESHWOVEN wine was THE INVENTION This invention relates to open-mesh woven'wire grips of the type used for drawing, holding and supporting cables, flexible conduits, and other objects.

Gripping devices of the indicated type have a tubular body portion provided at one end with a draft device to enable the grip to support'or draw an object and having its other end open to enable the object to be inserted therein. The body portions of these grips whether made as a complete tube, or as a split tube, are usually composed of wire strands woven so that in their tubular form they will have a normal internal thereby cause them to effect a firmer grip on the objects until a point is reached at which the applied force is greater than the frictional grip that any of such devices is capable of exercising on an object.

it is known that the angle of weave of the wires in the grip has a direct bearing on the gripping ability of these devices and that a relatively high angle of weave is necessary if such a device is to have a high degree of gripping ability without slip page. This knowledge is made use of in making the so-called variable weave" grip, wherein the strands at the object receiving end of the grip are woven at a greater angle than in the remainder of the grip in order that the grip will immediately establish a tight grip on an object at such end and thereby assure that the device will effectively grip the object throughout its entire length. There are limitations however, in existing types of grip constructions to the maximum size of the weave angles which can be utilized in making such constructions.

Thus, in the socalled endless weave type of grip which is made of strands of wire that are bent or folded substantially midway of their ends to form loops at the object receiving end of the grip. it has been found that such loops at the object receiving end of the grip limit the degree of radial expansion that the grip may make. This is also true of the types ofgrips in which pairs of wires are connected together at the object receiving ends thereof by twisting the ends of such paired wires together, or by connecting such paired ends together by metal end tabs. The limitations to such expansion are quite the weave is limited in the amount it can be stretched around definite, or fixed, because of the relatively nonstretchable qualities of the wires that are employed in making such grips. Also in those grips in which the paired wire ends are connected together by twisting or by end tabs, the condition can be aggravated by twisting more than necessary, or by pushing the tabs too close to the body of the grip. Further, the degree of such expansion at the object receiving ends of suchprior grips becomes more restricted, the higher the weave angles that are employed in the end portions of such grips. it has been found that when there is utilized in the end portions of open mesh grips a weave angle such that the strands will assume a maximum working angle of from l20-i30 in the fully radially expanded condition of the grips for ready assembly on objects, that that is the maximum weave angle which can be employed in known types of grips, as presently constructed. When weave angles greater than such maximum were attempted in conventionally woven grips their radial expansion became so limited that the range of diameter sizes of objects that could be inserted into such grips was practically indifficult to apply a grip over a cable end ofeven the exact size for which it may have been constructed. This chocking effect which is due to a reduction of the diametrical opening at the grip end, is produced when the mesh is longitudinally collapsed under the force used for insertion of the cable end and takes place in the area of the first, second and third mesh spaces from the end. it has been found that'this disadvantage exists in both the constant weave and variable weave grips of conventional design. It is however, a much more serious problem in the latter type of grip, due to the fact that in the variable weave grips the weave angles usually decrease from the object receiving end of the grip thereby rending them progressively less resistant to axial compressive forces at progressively greater distances from such end of the grip. As a consequence, such grips will collapse underthe application of r such forces.

While in the use of split grips, such grips are usually mounted on the object and then secured in tubular form thereon, rather than first forming them into tubular fonn and then inserting the object into one end thereof, the provisionof high weave angles in conventionally woven grips of this type created a different problem. A grip of this type is woven to provide two series of loops along the sides thereof and these two series of loops are connected together by a'wire lace, or by a rod, or by latching devices, etc., in securing the grip on an object. it is customary in fastening the two looped sides or edges of the grip to progressively proceed from the draft end of the grip toward the other end thereof. As this operation proceeds the loops and meshes at the other end portion of the grip become distorted and diminished; in size and the end loops become difficult to thread. This is due to the fact that properclosed position so that the resulting grip is not as effective as it should be.

The problems resulting from the aforesaid disadvantages of the known types of grip constructions have caused dissatisfac tion with them for some time, but the art, prior to the instant invention, has not been able to provide a completely sa,isfactory solution for them. Efforts have been made to overcome certain of such disadvantages, such as by mechanically; preforming the woven grip to enlarge the object receiving end i so that a cable can more readily be inserted therein. Such preforming operations however, lessen the holding powers of the grips and make it practically impossible for them to function properly on smaller diameter cables. These problems have become more pressing in recent years because of the present tendency to provide cables and other objects with ex terior surfaces that are so smooth, hard and stick that the gripping ability of presently constructed grips thereon have been substantially reduced.

The principal'object of the invention to provide an improved open-mesh wire grip having greater holding power than existing grips of this type without the disadvantages of the latter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved open-mesh woven tubular wire grip that can easily be installed on an object to provide satisfactory service thereon even though the gripped surface portions of the object are quite smooth, hard and slick.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved wiregrip which, 'while the opening formed by the wire construction at the object receiving end thereof has a restricted expansion less than the expansion of the grip body, is capable of readily receiving and of providing adequate gripping power on objects having a wide range of exterior diameters.

A still-further object of the invention is to provide an improved open-mesh split grip of high holding power that can be readily and properly closed on an object.

Other objects of the invention, as well as the advantages and features of novelty thereof, will appear from a perusal of the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. I is an elevational view ofa portion ofa standard variable weave type of grip in relaxed condition; 7

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the condition of the grip when the object receiving end is collapsed under the pressure exerted to insert the end of the cable therein;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view ofa portion of a variable weave type of grip embodying the invention, the grip being shown ex-v panded radially from its normal relaxed condition in order to illustrate more clearly theweave pattern thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the condition of the grip of FIG. 3 when the object receiving end is collapsed under endwise pressure;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the variable weave grip of FIGS. 3 and 4 mounted on a mandrel for constructing the same;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a constant weave type of grip embodying the-invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a split grip showing the manner in which it is customarily mounted in position on a cable; and

FIG. 8 is a view of a split grip embodying the invention in extended position.

In the known kind of standard variable endless weave type of grip shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the grip is composed of a plurality of strands bent or folded substantially midway oftheir ends to form at the objectreceiving end ofthe grip a plurality of loops I0. The two strand sides or ends II, I2 of each strand extend downwardly from the loop 10 formed thereby and are wound spirally in opposite directions and interwoven with the other strand ends in the manner of braiding or weaving to form an open-mesh tube 13. The crossing portions of the strand ends are free to move relatively to each other so that the open-mesh tube may be expanded radially by endwise compression thereof, or reversely, contracted radially by endwise extension. At the opposite or draft end of the grip the strands are gathered together in groups to form draft means enabling the grip to support an object or to draw it endwise, as in the case of a cable through a conduit. The draft means may be of any suitable known construction and may be in the form of a loop, or loops, such as the draft loops shown on the split grip illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings.

In the conventional variablev weave type of grip shown in FIGS. I and 2, the meshes I4 are made relatively short axially at the object receiving end of the gripand gradually increase in axial length form the top downwardly without altering the' circumferential width of the mesh. lnthe conventional constant weave type of grip on the other hand, the size of the mesh is constant throughout the length of the grip. In both types of grips, however, the strand ends II and I2 are woven so that in at least the object receiving end thereof the weave angle designated by the double-headed arrows IS in FIGS. I, 5

and 6, is made high enough in order to assure that the grip will have the proper holding power (gripping ability). As previously indicated, the maximum weave angles capable of being utilized in existing constant weave and variable weave grips are such that the working angles thereof are in the I-I30 range when the grips are radially expanded to their maximum interior diameters. This limitation, as has also been previously indicated, is due to the construction of such grips at the object receiving ends thereof, whether they be of the endless or loop fonn as illustrated, or the strands thereof at such ends are secured together by twisting, or by tabs. Further, because of such construction at the object receiving end of the convenout, is aggravated when the grip is'of the variable weave type shown in FIGS. I and 2.

In a grip embodying the invention as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the invention, the maximumweave angles are provided in thegrip at a place generally designated 20 spaced from the loops I0 at the object receiving end of thegrip. From such place 20 to the loops 10, generally designated 2I in FIG. 3. the strands are woven so that when the grip is radially expanded, as by the insertion of the end ofa cable I6 as shown in FIG. 4, the grip in the area designated 21 will assume a funnellike shape. As a result of this construction, therefore, the choke at the endless weave end (the object receiving end) will be eliminated and the insertion of the grip over the object will be facilitated. Further, as will hereinafter be pointed out, it is working angle of the grip will be in the neighborhood of from ll 60. The strands in the remaining section 22 of the grip may be woven to provide either a variable weave, as shown, or a constant weave, as will hereinafter become more clear.

The construction of the variable weave grip embodying the invention depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, will be more clearly understood, it is believed, from a consideration of F IG. 5 of the drawings. In such figure, the three aforesaid areas or sections 20, 21 and 22 of such grip are more precisely indicated by braces. The grip illustrated by way of example is of the endless type and is made in the manner previously indicated by bending or folding each strand at its midpoint over one of the topmost lugs 25 of a suitable mandrel 26 to form the loops I0 at the object receiving end of the grip. The two sides or ends II, I2 of each strand are then wound spirally in opposite directions around and upon the periphery of the mandrel 26 and interwoven with the sides or ends of the other strands to form an open-meshed tube. At the other extremity of the woven grip body the strands are gathered to form draft means,

such as the draft loops illustrated in the split grip shown in.

, wardly as viewed in FIG. 5. In the formation of the section 20 tional grip, when the grip is radially expanded as by attempting of such tube the strands are woven to produce the desired maximum weave angles which results in mesh 27 of relatively short length axially. The strands are then woven so that in the section 22 of the tube the mesh 28 formed in such section gradually increase in axial length from the top end of such section 22 downwardly toward the other or draft end of the tube.

The weave angles forming the mesh 27 in the tube section 20 are the maximum that can be used in order that the grip may be enabled to properly grip products having smooth, hard, slick gripping surfaces. It has been found that this result is attained when the weave angles are such that the strands will assume working angles of from l30-I60' in the fully radially expanded condition of the grip at which it can' be readily assembled on an object. It is possible to attain this end in the grip of FIGS. 3-5 because the strand portions forming the tube section 20 are located inwardly of the ends of the tube and the crossing portions of the strands in the adjoining ends of the tube sections 21 22 are free to move relatively to each other. In other words, due to'the fact that the tube section 20 is located in spaced relation from the loops I0 at the object receiving end of the grip and is separated therefrom by strand portions which at their crossings are relatively movable, it is possible-to increase the diameter range capabilities of a grip to provide in such section 20 a higher working or surface gripping weave angle than is now capable of being properly utilised in presently constructed grips. The strand portions in the tube section 21 are preferablywoven in a variable weave design and so that the axial lengths of the mesh 29 therein adjacent to the upper end of the section 20 of high weave angle are only slightly greater than the axial lengths of the mesh 27 in such section 20. The axial lengths of the mesh 30 upwardly from the mesh 29 are made progressively longer so that the uppermost mesh 30 formed in part by the loops may have an axial length approximating twice that of the mesh 27 in section 20. As a result of this construction, the outer tube section 21 will, when compressed, assume the funnellike shape illustrated in FIG. 4, thereby enabling the easy assembly ofthe grip over objects that will expand the mesh radially to working weave angles that are conducive to firm gripping of surfaces that cannot be effectively gripped by known types of holding devices. Tests have shown that known types of variable weave grips for a L06 diameter cable will slip at pulls of from 200 to 250 lbs., whereas a comparable grip made according to the invention will withstand pulling force up to 670 lbs. This is an increase of approximately ZSO'percent holding power at this tested diameter of the grip. Tests also confirm easier assembly of the grip of this invention on cables of maximum diameter (L250) in the range for which these grips were made. Tests have shown that by constructing a grip in accordance with the invention, it is possible to increase the grip diameter range by as much as 25 percent. It was further found that not only was it possible by the weave of this invention to materially increase the diameter range and holding power of a grip, but such results were capable of being accomplished by grips of shorter length than comparable grips of conventional design. Thus, it was found by test that it was possible by constructing a grip in accordance with the invention to increase the holding power of the grip by 250 percent, while reducing its mesh length by percent.

The grip shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, has an object receiving end section 21 similar in construction to the section 2I in the grip of FIG. 5. As in the grip of FIG. 5, the meshes 27 in the portion of the grip adjoining the bottom end of the section 2| thereof are formed by a given high-angle weave which renders the grip capable of properly gripping objects having hard, slippery surfaces. The grip of FIG. 6, however, differs from that of FIG. I16 5, in that when such given highangle weave is attained, it is maintained constant throughout the remainder of the grip toward its opposite end. This grip therefore, while it possesses the aforesaid advantages resulting from the invention, will have a neutral diameter than that of the variable weave-type grip shown in FIG. 5 for a given range of cable diameters.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings there is shown a tubular open weave grip of the split type. As in the case of the grips of FIGS. 5 and 6, the body 35 of the grip which assumes a cylindrical form when applied to a cable as shown in FIG. 7, is comwoven so that the axial lengths of the mesh formed thereby become progressively longer than the mesh formed in the body section 20'. In the section 22 of the grip body, the strand portions may also be woven so that the axial lengths of thc'mesh formed thereby progressively increase in length from the section 20 towards the draft end of the grip bodyin the manner of the previously described section 22 of the grip of FIG. 5, or they may be woven to provide a constant weave from the body section 20' toward the draft end of the grip in the manner ofthe grip of FIG. 6.

It is the usual practice in closing split grips to start atthe draft end with the fastening means and progressively close the grip towards the other end thereof as is shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. As has been previously indicated, in perfonning this operation with conventional split grips having high weave angles, such an operation causes the grip to become distorted so that the last few mesh spaces or loops 38 at such other body end become so diminished in size that theyare difficult to thread and the sides of the split mesh cannot be properly closed. However, by weaving the strand portions in the body section 2] in accordance with the invention, it has been found that sufficient additional circumferential stretch has been provided in the body at this section thereof, that even though the fastening operation may distort the grip weave, the side loops in such section 21' are relatively easy to secure together and the grip body can be properly closed throughout its length.

What is claimed is:

l. A wire grip composed of wire strands interwoven to form an open-mesh body adapted to be placed in surrounding gripping relation with an object and having a draft end to enable a gripped object to be supported or drawn endwise by the grip, said open-mesh body having a first longitudinal end section forming the other end of said body, a second intermediate longitudinal section having one end adjoining said first end section, and a third longitudinal section extending from the other end of said second intermediate section toward the draft end of such body, the wire strands in said body extending through said three longitudinal body sections and in at least said first end section and said second intermediate section being, in their unstressed braided condition, woven at different weave-angle patterns, the portions of the wire strands extending through said second intermediate section being woven at a posed of a plurality of interlaced strands. The strands are.

inclined with respect to the axis of the body so that they pass in helices thercabout. At the extremity of the body comparable to the object receiving ends of the grips of FIGS. 5 and 6, the strands may be continuous so that they form loops 36, as shown, or may be attached together in pairs by twisting, or by tabs, as is known in the art. At the opposite extremity or draft end of the grip, the strands are grouped together and unitedso as to form draft loops 37 which are adapted to receive suitable coupling devices so that a pulling force may be readily applied to the object, or it may be suitably supported. As is shown more clearly in FIG. 8 of the drawings, the body 35 of the grip is split, the strands thereof being woven so that a series of loops 38 are formed along each longitudinal edge or side thereof. When the grip body is wrapped around on object, such as the cable 39 shown in FIG. 7, the longitudinal edges thereof are firmly secured together by any suitable fastening means such as the flexible lacing wire or strand 40 shown in such figure.

Within the body area of the grip, the strands are woven to provide woven sections comparable to the previously described woven sections 20, 21 and 22 of the grips shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 of the drawings. Thus, in the section 20', the strand portions are woven to provide in such section a high working weave angle enabling the grip to grasp the object firmly and strongly. Outwardly from section 20' towards the loops 36, in the section designated 21', the strand portions are given high-angle weave having a high degree of object gripping ability without slippage and the portions of the wire strands extending through said first end section having a weave-angle pattern substantially less than that of said second intermediate section to provide larger mesh size than in said second intermediate section and such that the weave in said first end section is capable of being expanded and contracted to vary the radial dimensions of such end section and forms a mesh size which enables the crossing portions of the strands at the juncture of said first end section and said second intermediate section to move freely relatively to each other, and

the weave of the portions of the wire strands extending through said third longitudinal section forming a mesh size which enables the crossing portions of the strands at such other end of said second intermediate section to move freely relatively to each other.

2. A wire grip as defined in claim I, in which the strand weave in said first end body section forms a mesh size which at the juncture thereof with said second intermediate section is at least as large as the mesh size in said second intermediate section and which gradually increases from the juncture of said second intermediate section therewith to said other body end in such manner as to cause such first end section to assume a funnellike shape capable of readily receiving objects through the tubular opening in such first end section when such end section is compressed for radial expansion.

3. A wire grip as defined in claim 1,,in which the strand weave in said first end body section forms a mesh size which at the juncture thereof with said second intermediate section is 4 'at least as large as'the mesh size in said second intermediate section and which is such throughout the remainder of the length thereof as to enable said first end section to be stretched circumferentially a materially greater extent than said second intermediate section.

4. A wire grip as defined in claim 1, in which said high-angle weave in said second intermediate section is such that the strands will assume a maximum working angle of from l30-l 60 in the fully radially expanded condition of the grip.

5. A wire grip as defined in claim 1. in which said second intermediate section of high-angle weave extends for a predetermined axial length of the grip.

6. A wire grip as defined in claim I. in which the .weave of said strands in said third longitudinal section extending from said second intermediate section toward said drah end of said body forms a mesh size at least as great as the mesh size in said second intermediate section and progressively increasing toward said'draft end of the grip.

7. A wire grip as defined in claim I. in which the weave of;

8.'A wire grip as defined in claim 1, in which pairs of said grip body wire strands are connected together at said other end of the body to form a plurality of loops at the outer extremity of said first end section of the grip body. said loops forming an object receiving opening at such extremity of said end section and forming with crossing strand portions terminal circularly arranged mesh which are the largest in said first end section or the grip body and enable such end section to stretch to a greater extent than the second intermediate section of the grip body formed by said high-angle weave.

9. A wire grip as defined in claim I, in which said grip body is a split sleeve in which the strands are woven to fonn a series of loops at each longitudinal edge thereol'and includes means engaging said loops to fasten such longitudinal edges together. and in which the strand weave in said first end body section forms a mesh size and edge loops which are larger than the mesh size and loops in' said second intermediate body section and are such as to enable such sleeve to be stretched circuml'erentially about an object a materially greater extent than said second intermediate section.

i i t 

1. A wire grip composed of wire strands interwoven to form an open-mesh body adapted to be placed in surrounding gripping relation with an object and having a draft end to enable a gripped object to be supported or drawn endwise by the grip, said open-mesh body having a first longitudinal end section forming the other end of said body, a second intermediate longitudinal section having one end adjoining said first end section, and a third longitudinal section extending from the other end of said second intermediate section toward the draft end of such body, the wire strands in said body extending through said three longitudinal body sections and in at least said first end section and said second intermediate section being, in their unstressed braided condition, woven at different weave-angle patterns, the portions of the wire strands extending through said second intermediate section being woven at a given high-angle weave having a high degree of object gripping ability without slippage and the portions of the wire strands extending through said first end section having a weave-angle pattern substantially less than that of said second intermediate section to provide larger mesh size than in said second intermediate section and such that the weave in said first end section is capable of being expanded and contracted to vary the radial dimensions of such end section and forms a mesh size which enables the crossing portions of the strands at the juncture of said first end section and said second intermediate section to move freely relatively to each other, and the weave of the portions of the wire strands extending through said third longitudinal section forming a mesh size which enables the crossing portions of the strands at such other end of said second intermediate section to move freely relatively to each other.
 2. A wire grip as defined in claim 1, in which the strand weave in said first end body section forms a mesh size which at the juncture thereof with said second intermediate section is at least as large as the mesh size in said second intermediate section and which gradually increases from the juncture of said second intermediate section therewith to said other body end in such manner as to cause such first end section to assume a funnellike shape capable of readily receiving objects through the tubular opening in such first end section when such end section is compressed for radial expansion.
 3. A wire grip as defined in claim 1, in which the strand weave in said first end body section forms a mesh size which at the juncture thereof with said second intermediate section is at least as large as the mesh size in said second intermediate section and which is such throughout the remainder of the length thereof as to enable said first end section to be stretched circumferentially a materially greater extent than said second intermediate section.
 4. A wire grip as defined in claim 1, in which said high-angle weave in said second intermediate section is such that the strands will assume a maximum working angle of from 130*-160* in the fully radially expanded condition of the grip.
 5. A wire grip as defined in claim 1, in which said second intermediate section of high-angle weave extends for a predetermined axial length of the grip.
 6. A wire grip as defined in claim 1, in which the weave of said strands in said third longitudinal section extending from said second intermediate section toward said draft end of said body forms a mesh size at least as great as the mesh size in said second intermediate section and progressively increasing toward said draft end of the grip.
 7. A wire grip as defined in claim 1, in which the weave of said strands in said third longitudinal section extending from said second intermediate section toward said draft end thereof form a mesh size similar to the mesh size formed in said second intermediate section.
 8. A wire grip as defined in claim 1, in which pairs of said grip body wire strands are connected together at said other end of the body to form a plurality of loops at the outer extremity of said first end section of the grip body, said loops forming an object receiving opening at such extremity of said end section and forming with crossing strand portions terminal circularly arranged mesh which are the largest in said first end section of the grip body and enable such end section to stretch to a greater extent than the second intermediate section of the grip body formed by said high-angle weave.
 9. A wire grip as defined in claim 1, in which said grip body is a split sleeve in which the strands are woven to form a series of loops at each longitudinal edge thereof and includes means engaging said loops to fasten such longitudinal edges together, and in which the strand weave in said first end body section forms a mesh size and edge loops which are larger than the mesh size and loops in said second intermediate body section and are such as to enable such sleeve to be stretched circumferentially about an object a materially greater extent than said second intermediate section. 